Automatic time-controlled trip mechanism



J. B. RODGER.

AUTOMATIC TIME CONTRO'LLED T-RIP MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-4.1919- 1f,329,020. Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. B. RODGER. AUTOMATIC- TIME CONTROLLED TRIP MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1919.

Patented 32111.27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. INVENTQB. J19. F0

JOSEPH B. RODGER, OF INDEFENDENCE, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC TIME-CONTROLLED TRIP MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Application filed February 4, 1919; Serial No. 275,274.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. RoDGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Independence, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certa n new and useful. Improvements in Automatic Time-Controlled Trip Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic timecontrolled tripping mechanisms of that class embodying an alarm clock or the like as the time-controlling element, and more especially to that-class for opening draft doors or closing checks of a furnace it being understood, however, that the mechanism is adapted for the performance of other analogous functions.

The object of the inventlon is to produce an automatic-time-controlled trip mechanism whereby a comparatively small weight may be employed to strike a blow for effecting the tripping action as distinguished from force exerted by a spring or a weight functioning in a manner equivalent to a spring. A further object is to produce a mechanism of the character set forth, which exerts power without transmitting appreciable shock or jar to the time element or clock. A still further object is to produce a mechanism of the character set forth of simple, strong, durable and inexpensive con struction, and which can be assembled or dismantled without the use of tools.

.With these objects in View the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a front elevation of a part of a furnace, equipped with mechan sm embodying the invention, for effecting the closure of the draft door at a predetermined time.

Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged rear view of the mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 4, is a view showing a part of the mechanism applied in operative position with relation to the damper of a furnace.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters identify corresponding parts. in all the figures, 1 indicates a suitable support, the same comprising the customary post found on certain types of furnaces 2, and pivoted upon the upper end of said post is a rock lever 3 adapted to be operated by a yieldingly applied force. In this instance an adjustable weight a is mounted 011 one end of the rock lever for the purpose of operating the same whennot prevented. In Fig. 4 an ordinary draft check 6 is shown, and in one instance the door 5 and in the other the check (3 is connected by a chain 7 or the like, to the rock lever 3, which in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted to move upward when released, whereas in Fig. l it is arranged for downward movement when released to provide for the proper operation of the draft door and check respectively.

For the support of the automatic tripping mechanism any suitable means may be provided. lVhere it is used .in conjunction with a furnace of the type shown, it is preferred to secure rigidly to the post 1 as shown, or in any other suitable manner, an arm 8, and bolted as at 9 upon the arm 8 so as to be adjustable pivotally thereon to accommodate conditions, is what I term a base bar 10, which bar is preferably twisted and bent to provide at one end thereof the right angle-shaped arm 11 as a means of rigidly supporting a vertical resistance post 12, provided at its upper end with a U- shaped guide clip 13 receiving the upper end of a. catch 14 pivoted as at 15 to the angle arm 11, and held yieldingly advanced by a retractile spring 15-, connecting said catch below its pivotal point with a fixed point, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The catch 14: is provided with a series of bolt holes 16 for the reception of bolts 18 for fastening to the catch one or more integrally formed teeth 17 therefor, which teeth may face downward or upward as shown in Figs. 1 and a respectively, accordingly as they are designed to prevent upward or downward movement of the lever 3, which is adapted to engage the abrupt face of one of the teeth adjacent the resistance post 12, so that when the catch is pulled back as hereinafter explained, the resistance post shall prevent following movement by the lever and insure the disconnection of the same from the catch.

19 is a split band secured upon the base bar of the support and transversely thereof, and said band isformed at one end with an outwardly turned lip 20 for engagement with a notched catch 21 hinged to the opposite end of the band, and said band is provided at what may be termed its rear edge, with inturned stops 22, for a purpose which hereinafter appears, one of said stops forming a pivotal support for a trigger 23 disposed for action parallel with the rear face of the clock and terminating in a lat eral arm 24 at its lower end to insure contact with a weight 25 mounted loosely for lateral and longitudinal movement on a vertical rod 26 formed at its lower end with a foot to prevent detachment of the weight and to receive the impact thereof when the same falls, as hereinafter referred to. T he upper end of the rod 26 is detachably hooked to one arm of a bell-crank lever 27 fulcrumed in cars 28 carried by the band, and the other arm of said bell-crank lever is detachably connected by a link 29 to the pivoted catch 14.

To hold the weight normally elevated, it is provided with an upstanding hook 30 to engage the base bar 10 at the opposite side ofthe same from the trigger 23, and to pre vent pivotal movement of the weight when elevated, said hook is disposed closely between a stop pin 31 and an alarm clock or the like 32, secured in the split clamp ring 19, and prevented from moving rearwardly therein by the stops 22 hereinbefore mentioned, it being noted that the handle 88 of the alarm arbor of the clock is so disposed that when the element operates, said handle shall apply pressure against the upper end of the trigger 23 and pivotally operate the same, and thereby press the weight 25 laterally until it is disengaged from the base bar 10, this disconnection being made possible without requiring undue movement of the trigger, by fitting the rod 26 loosely through the. base bar 10, so that in the initial application of pressure by the lever when the leverage of the handle 33 is weakest, said rod may swing to the right until the hook 230 is almost withdrawn from engagement with the upper side of said base bar, the latter part of the movement of the lever continuing the lateral movement of the weight a slight distance as the swing of rod 26 is ended to complete the disengagement of the hook from the base bar. As this occurs the weight falls and by impact on the lower end of the rod operates the bell-crank lever and 4 pulls the pivoted catch back until its tooth is disengaged from the lever 3, which in the construction shown by Figs. 1 and 2 is immediately operated by the weight 4 and effects the opening of the draft door. In the construction shown by Fig. 4:, the tripping of the catch as explained permits the lever 3 to swing downward under the force of gravity thereof and of the check 6, to permit the latter to close.

It has been found by practical operation that the handle of the alarm arbor of an ordinary clock will invariable trip the weight, and that the latter through the im petus it gathers in its fall, will trip the catch from engagement with the lever 3 even though the lever is supplying its maximum pressure against the catch, that is a pressure which a very powerful spring or a very heavy weight would not overcome unless the power of the weight was multiplied by permitting the freedom of gravitative movement before it began to impose withdrawing or tripping force on the catch. If the tripping of the catch is effective and the lever 3 moves, the spring 15 turns the catch to its advanced position. It will be apparent that the leverage of the weight 25 can be increased by relatively shortening or lengthening the rear and front arms of the bell crank lever 27. 1

An appliance of this character may be employed in many connections, and has been found exceedingly useful as a means of opening the draft door of a furnace at an early hour in the morning while the person in charge is asleep or giving his attention to other matters. It will be noted by reference to the drawing that certain parts can be dismantled and the said parts reassem bled easily and quickly without the use of tools of any character.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced an automatic time-controlled tripping mechanism embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the objects of the invention, and which is susceptible of modification in certain partic ulars without departing from the principle of construction involved as expressed in the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. In combination, a time-controlled operative means, a movable catch, a suspended weight, means actuated by the first-named means to release the weight, means to be struck and operated by the weight after the same has acquired momentum, for tri-p ping said catch, and means; for returning the catch to normal position after it has been tripped.

2. In combination, a time-controlled operative means, a movable catch for holding an object, a suspended weight, means actuated by the first-named means to release the weight, means to be struck and operated by the weight after the same has acquired momentum, for tripping said catch, and a fixed device for preventing the object held by the catch from moving with the latter as; the same is tripped and thereby insure; disengagement between said object and the catch. 7

3. In combination, a clock having an alarm mechanism handle, a trigger for operation by said "handle, a movable catch, a suspended weight for lateral movement by said trigger, to disengage the former from its point of suspension, and means to be struck and operated by the weight afterthe same has acquired momentum, for tripping the said catch.

4. In combination, a suitable support, a base bar mounted thereon, a stand post fixed to said base bar, a catch pivoted in fixed relation to the stand post and parallel therewith, a spring holding said catch advanced, a suspended weight, means actuated by the first-named means to release the weight, and means to be struck'a'nd operated by the weight after the same has acquired momentum, for tripping the catch.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a base bar, a rod extending loosely through and laterally movable'in said bar, a weight having an upstanding hook engaging said bar from one side, means for pressing against the opposite-side of said weight from said hook, to swing said weight and rod a limited distance and then continue the movement of the weight in the same direction until its hook is disconnected from said bar, a pivotal catch, and means whereby said weight shall trip said catch by striking upon and imparting downward movement to said rod.

6. The combination of a support, a base bar mounted thereon, a post fixed to said bar, a catch pivotally mounted on the post,

a clamp band mounted on the bar, an automatic time-controlled device secured to the clam band and provided with a rotatable hand e, a rod operatively connected to the catch to trip the fsame when moved downward, a weight detachably suspended from said bar and slidable on and adapted to strike said rod and impart downward movement thereto, and means actuated by rotation of the said; handle for tripping the weight from engagement with said bar to permit it to slide downward on and then impart downward movement to said rod and efiect the tripping of said catch.

7. The combination of a suitable support, a lever mounted! thereon, a suitably supported bar, a post carried by said bar adjacent said lever, a vertical catch pivoted on said post and engaging said lever to prevent pivotal movement thereof, a spring for holding the catch" yieldingly in the path of said lever, a vertical rod operatively connected to the catch to trip the same and provided with a foot, a weightv pivotally suspended above the foot of the rod and slidably upon the latter, a time-controlled device, and means actuated by said device for tripping said weight from the point of suspension to cause it to drop and by striking on said foot impart tripping movement to said catch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH B, RODGER. 

